Magnetic card transaction apparatus

ABSTRACT

A card with a magnetic stripe when fed into a card reader can be illegally read by a read head unobtrusively attached to the outside of the card reader adjacent to the slot into which the card is fed. To defeat this illegal reading, movement of a card through the read head is interrupted thereby making it difficult for the illegal read head to read the stripe. This interruption occurs at the point where the proper read head inside the card reader is not reading the magnetic stripe. The interruption can be a brief stop or a brief reversal in direction. The interruption occurs once while the card is being fed into the card reader and once when the card is being fed out of the card reader.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a magnetic card transactionapparatus having a magnetic card reader; more specifically, it relatesto a magnetic card transaction apparatus having a function to preventincorrect reading of a magnetic card.

[0002] A magnetic card reader is attached to a magnetic card transactionapparatus which performs various transactions using a magnetic card,such as an ATM found in a bank. At a card insertion area of a magneticcard reader, in general, one finds the following in order in thedirection of a card to be inserted: a card slot through which a magneticcard is inserted or ejected; a card insertion detector which detects themagnetic card inserted therein; a guiding path which guides the magneticcard inserted from the card slot to the inside of the apparatus; and ashutter which opens and closes the guiding path.

[0003] When a user inserts a magnetic card into a card slot, a magneticstrip at the end of the inserted magnetic card is detected by a cardinsertion detector; then, a shutter is opened such that the magneticcard can be taken in. The inside of the shutter has a pair of cardtransferring rollers which forms a transferring means for a magneticcard; the inserted magnetic card is held to be taken in by the cardtransferring rollers.

[0004] In order to avoid undesired sensations, such as a sensation ofthe magnetic card being stuck, from being sensed by an user when amagnetic card is inserted, the shutter is opened while the pair of cardtransferring rollers are driven as soon as insertion of the magneticcard is detected by the card insertion detector; therefore, the magneticcard can be smoothly taken following insertion of the magnetic card by auser.

[0005] On the other hand, the amount of projection of the card from thecard slot at the time of ejection is maximized in order for the user toreadily remove the card from the card slot.

[0006] In a magnetic card reader described above, insertion of amagnetic card is such that the end of the magnetic card is inserted to acard slot then the card is transferred by a pair of card transferringrollers at an even speed. Similarly, ejection of a magnetic card is suchthat the magnetic card is transferred by the pair of card transferringrollers at a steady speed until the card is actually ejected from thecard slot.

[0007] Therefore, when a magnetic head is attached to the outside of thecard slot (in order to perform an illegal act), the magnetic card istransferred at an even speed along the position for detecting themagnetic head. Consequently, information recorded on the magnetic cardcan be read out by the magnetic head attached to the outside of the cardslot.

[0008] The present invention intends to provide a magnetic cardtransaction apparatus which is configured such that a magnetic cardinserted or ejected from a card slot cannot be read out by a magnetichead attached to the outside of the card slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration showing major parts of amagnetic card transaction apparatus according to the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 2(a) is a flowchart showing an operation of taking in amagnetic card about the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 2(b) is a flowchart showing an operation of ejecting themagnetic card about the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 3(a) is an operation of taking in a magnetic card.

[0013]FIG. 3(b) is an operation of ejecting the magnetic card.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of an operation oftaking in a magnetic card in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing yet another example of an operationof taking in a magnetic card in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0016]FIG. 6 is a configuration showing a modified example of theapparatus of FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 7 is a configuration showing another modified example of theapparatus of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 8 is a configuration showing yet another modified example ofthe apparatus of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The following describes a magnetic card transaction apparatususing the present invention in reference to drawings.

[0020]FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration of major parts of a magneticcard reader which is attached to a magnetic card transaction apparatus,such as an ATM. Magnetic card reader 1 of this embodiment is fixed tothe back side of card slot opening 4 formed at front panel 3 of magneticcard transaction apparatus 2.

[0021] Magnetic card reader 1 comprises: card slot 5 for insertion andejection of a magnetic card; magnetic head 7 as a card insertiondetector which detects magnetic card 6 inserted from card slot 5;guiding path 8 which guides magnetic card 6, inserted from card slot 5,to the inside of the apparatus; and shutter 9 which opens and closesguiding path 8. These parts are placed in the above order in thedirection of a card to be inserted.

[0022] A pair of card transferring rollers 11 is placed inward ofshutter 9. Magnetic card 6 is taken in by rollers 11 and is transferredalong a transferring path defined by a plurality of pairs oftransferring rollers 12, 13 which are placed with a given distance. Thespacing between rollers 11 and 12 is slightly less than the length ofthe card 6. Likewise, the spacing between rollers 12 and 13 is slightlyless than the length of the card 6. Each pair of rollers 11 through 13are rotated by drive motor 14. Magnetic head 15 is placed at a positionof rollers 12 for reading a magnetic strip on magnetic card 6 whichpasses thereby.

[0023] Drive control circuit 16 is to control the drive of each part andis configured of a microcomputer. It controls operations of taking inmagnetic card 6 and reading out by magnetic head 15 according to acontrol program stored in a ROM thereof. Also, photo sensors 17, 18 areto detect positions of magnetic card 6 described later.

[0024] The following describes operations of taking in and ejection of amagnetic card in this embodiment of magnetic card reader 1 in referenceto a flowchart in FIG. 2 and a configuration in FIG. 3.

[0025] First, the operation of taking in magnetic card 6 is describedherein according to a flowchart in FIG. 2(a). When a user insertsmagnetic card 6 through card slot 5, magnetic head 7 or a sensor (notshown in the figure) detects a magnetic strip formed on insertedmagnetic card 6 (ST1). Based on detection signals from magnetic head 7,drive control circuit 16 rotates (starts) motor 14 to drive atransferring system including transferring rollers 11; shutter 9 isopened at the same time (ST2).

[0026] As a result, magnetic card 6 can be taken in. When it passes theshutter position while being taken in, the end of the card is engaged bya pair of rollers 11 such that taking in of magnetic card 6 is started.

[0027] In this embodiment, when the back end of magnetic card 6 projectsfrom card slot 5 after motor 14 is rotated (started), motor 14 istemporarily suspended to suspend operation of taking in magnetic card 6.Time of suspending motor 14 can be controlled based on a period of timeafter detection of the card by photo sensors 18. Also, it can becontrolled based on a period of time after detection of magnetic head 7for detecting insertion of a card. Suspension of taking in magnetic card6 is set to be 100 ms to 500 ms in this embodiment (ST3).

[0028] Thereafter, motor 14 is activated (ST4) to restart taking inmagnetic card 6. After magnetic card 6 is taken in to the position ofmagnetic head 15, formed in the card reader (ST5), magnetic head 15performs reading from or writing onto magnetic card 6 (ST6).

[0029] In the operation of taking in magnetic card 6 of this embodiment,the operation is temporarily suspended while the back end of magneticcard 6 projects from card slot 5 and is continued after a given periodof time. As a result, if an illegal magnetic head 20 is attached to theoutside of card slot 5, such as on the surface of front panel 3, asindicated with an imaginary line in FIG. 3(a), magnetic card 6 istemporarily stopped and therefore that magnetic head 20 cannotcompletely read out magnetically recorded information of insertedmagnetic card 6. Therefore, illegal reading out of magnetically recordedinformation by magnetic head 20 can be prevented. It should be noted,however, that the apparatus is arranged so that stopping the card inthis way to prevent illegal reading thereof does not effect theauthorized reading of the card by the magnetic head 15.

[0030] The following describes ejection of magnetic card 6 in magneticcard reader 1 of this embodiment in reference to a flowchart of FIG.2(b). Herein, pairs of rollers 11 through 13 start ejection of magneticcard 6 (ST11). When photo sensor 17 detects the back end of magneticcard 6 in the direction of ejection (ST12), the ejection operation istemporarily suspended (ST13).

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3(b), when photo sensor 17 detects the back endof magnetic card 6, the front end of magnetic card in the direction ofejection projects out of card slot 5 by a given amount. Also, suspensionof ejection of the card is established to be between 100 ms to 500 ms.

[0032] After the period of suspension passes, motor 14 is started torestart ejection of magnetic card 6 (ST14). Thereafter, photo sensor 18,located on the side closer to card slot 5 than photo sensor 17, detectsthe back end of magnetic card 6 (ST15); then, motor 14 is stopped. Thiscompletes the motorized ejection of the card.

[0033] Upon completion of motorized ejection of the card, the back endof magnetic card 6 is still held in rollers 11. As a user lightly pullsmagnetic card 6, it can be removed from card slot 5. Also, when the userforgets to remove magnetic card 6, magnetic card 6 can be retrieved tothe inside after a given period of time by driving the pair oftransferring rollers 11.

[0034] In magnetic card reader 1 of this embodiment, when a magneticcard is ejected, the operation of ejection is suspended while the end ofthe card to be ejected projects from card slot 5. Therefore, even thoughillegal magnetic head 20 is attached to the front panel as indicatedwith an imaginary line in FIG. 3(b), the break in motion preventsmagnetically recorded information of magnetic card 6 from being read outby magnetic head 20 as the card 6 is being ejected.

[0035] According to magnetic card reader 1 of this embodiment,transferring of the card is suspended only once during taking in andonce during ejection of the card. However, one may modify it such thatsuspension of transferring the card can be repeated twice or more. Inother words, one can repeat ST3, ST4 or ST13, ST14 of FIG. 2.

[0036] Also, time for suspension of transferring the card is establishedto be 100 ms to 500 ms in this embodiment. This range of time allows auser to insert a magnetic card without sensing undesired sensations,such as the card being stuck. However, the range of time can be eithershorter or longer than the time indicated above.

[0037] Further Embodiments.

[0038] To prevent reading out of magnetic card 6, which is inserted orejected from card slot 5, by a magnetic head (illegally) attached to theoutside of card slot 5, the following operation to control operation oftaking in and ejection of magnetic card can be performed.

[0039] A first method of control is to temporarily change the movementof magnetic card 6 to the reverse direction during taking in or duringejection of the card. When magnetic card 6 is taken in, a motor isrotated in the reverse direction to temporarily move magnetic card 6 inthe reverse direction. Instead of performing ST3 (suspending the motor)of FIG. 2(a); then, operation of taking in the card is restarted. Thisreverse motion can be repeated for a plurality of times.

[0040] When magnetic card 6 is ejected, motor 14 is rotated totemporarily change the direction of motion of magnetic card 6 for agiven period of time. Instead of performing ST13 (suspending the motor)of FIG. 2(b); then, operation of ejection is restarted. The reversal ofmotion for a short period of time (e.g. 200 ms) can be repeated for aplurality of times.

[0041] A second method of control is to rotate (start) motor 14 fortransferring the card not at the same time of opening of shutter 9, butafter a given period of time such that transferring of magnetic card 6is temporarily suspended. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, aftershutter 9 is opened in ST22, a given period of time is counted in ST23;thereafter, motor 15 is rotated (started) in ST24. The rest of theprocess, ST21, ST25, ST26 are identical to ST1, ST5, ST6 of FIG. 2(a).

[0042] By delaying rotation (start) of the motor, magnetic card 6inserted from card slot 5 is temporarily stopped while being insertedbetween transferring rollers 11 since rollers 11 have not startedrotating. Hence, one may prevent recorded information on the magneticcard, which is inserted via the magnetic head illegally attached to theoutside of card slot 5, from being read out.

[0043] A third method of control is to open shutter 9 after detectingthat the end of inserted magnetic card 6 comes in contact with shutter 9during insertion of the card.

[0044] Whether magnetic card 6 comes in contact with shutter 9 isdetected by detecting a decrease in the output from magnetic head 7 fordetecting insertion of a card. When card 6 comes in contact with shutter9, the speed of the card to be inserted is lowered wherein the outputfrom magnetic head 7 is lowered or disappears.

[0045] Also, one may mount detector 30, such as a micro switch, todetect that magnetic card 6 comes in contact with shutter 9 as indicatedwith an imaginary line in FIG. 1.

[0046]FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for operation of taking in a magneticcard in the above establishment. When insertion of magnetic card 6 isdetected by magnetic head 7, motor 15 is rotated (started) (ST31, ST32).Then, the output from magnetic head 7 for detecting insertion of a cardis lowered or disappears when magnetic card 6 starts to stop orcompletely stops while being in contact with shutter 9. By monitoringthe output, whether the end of inserted magnetic card 6 comes in contactwith shutter 9 can be detected. When it is in contact, the processproceeds from ST33 to ST34 wherein shutter 9 is opened. Thereafter, theuser pushes in magnetic card 6 further such that the end of magneticcard 6 is held between transferring rollers 11 to start the operation oftaking in of the magnetic card (ST35). Then, reading out and writingfrom/onto magnetic card 6 begins (ST36).

[0047] In this method of control, magnetic card 6 inserted from cardslot 5 is temporary stopped when coming in contact with shutter 9.Therefore, one can prevent a magnetic head, which is illegally attachedto the outside of the card slot, from reading information of theinserted magnetic card.

[0048] Other Embodiments.

[0049] In the above embodiments, one can prevent an illegally attachedmagnetic head from reading information on a magnetic card by controllingmotion of the magnetic card. One may employ the following configurationwith or without the above control of card movement.

[0050] In a first configuration, a configuration at the outside of cardslot opening 4 of front panel 3 is altered such that magnetic head 20cannot be mounted thereat. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, a part ofslot frame 60, which defines card slot 5 of magnetic card reader 1, isprojected from opening 4 of front panel 3. Projection 61 faces amagnetic strip of inserted magnetic card 6; hence, it is preferable toform projection 61 on both top and bottom thereat in the case ofhandling a magnetic card having magnetic strips on both sides.

[0051] This configuration makes illegal mounting of a magnetic head tothe outside of card slot 5 difficult or impossible. Therefore, one mayprevent a magnetic head from illegal reading out of information on amagnetic card.

[0052] In a second configuration, illegal reading out can be preventedby detecting whether a foreign object, such as a magnetic head, isillegally attached to card slot opening 4 of the front panel. As shownin FIG. 7, detector 70 is attached on the back side of the front panelat a position in the vicinity of card slot 5; detector 70 detectswhether a foreign object, such as magnetic head 20, is illegallyattached to the front surface of the front panel.

[0053] As detector 70, for example, one may employ a optical reflectivesensor shown in FIG. 7; a foreign object on the front surface can bedetected forming detection opening 71 on front panel 3. Instead of areflective sensor, one may employ a microwave sensor, a metal detectingsensor, or a mechanical sensor such as a micro switch.

[0054] In a third configuration, even though a magnetic head isillegally mounted at card slot opening 4 of front panel 3, reading of amagnetic card can be disabled by a disturbance magnetic field generator.As shown in FIG. 8, disturbance magnetic field generator 80, in whichcoil 82 is wound around iron core 81, is attached in the vicinity ofcard slot 5 to prevent magnetic head 20, illegally attached to theoutside of the front panel, from reading of a magnetic card bygenerating a disturbance magnetic field. A current in coil 82 can beeither direct or alternating.

[0055] The above describes the present invention in reference toembodiments; however, the present invention is not limited to the aboveembodiments. For example, in the above embodiments, the direction oftransferring a magnetic card is reversed when the transferring operationis temporarily suspended. However, one may alter the card transferringspeed such that it is difficult to read a magnetic strip with a magnetichead.

[0056] As described above, in a magnetic card transaction apparatus ofthe present invention, transferring of a magnetic card is eithertemporarily suspended or the direction of transferring is reversedduring the operation of taking in or ejecting the card from a card slot.Therefore, one can prevent reading of a magnetic card by a magnetichead, which is illegally mounted on the outside of the card slot.

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic card transaction apparatus comprising:a card slot through which a magnetic card is inserted; a cardtransferring means which takes in said magnetic card inserted from saidcard slot; and a temporary suspension means which suspends operation oftaking said magnetic card by said card transferring means when the backend of said magnetic card projects out from said card slot.
 2. Amagnetic card transaction apparatus comprising: a card slot throughwhich a magnetic card is inserted; a card transferring means which takesin said magnetic card inserted from said card slot; and a reversedirection transferring means which, when the back end of said magneticcard projects out from said card slot, temporarily suspends operation oftaking in said magnetic card by said card transferring means and whichtemporarily transfers said magnetic card in the reverse direction.
 3. Amagnetic card transaction apparatus comprising: a card slot throughwhich a magnetic card is ejected; a card transferring means which ejectssaid magnetic card from said card slot; and a temporary suspension meanswhich suspends operation of ejecting said magnetic card by said cardtransferring means when said magnetic card is ejected from said cardslot by a given amount.
 4. A magnetic card transaction apparatuscomprising: a card slot through which a magnetic card is ejected; a cardtransferring means which ejects said magnetic card inserted from saidcard slot; and a reverse direction transferring means which, when saidmagnetic card is ejected from said card slot by a given amount,temporarily suspends operation of ejecting said magnetic card by saidcard transferring means and which temporarily transfers said magneticcard in the reverse direction.
 5. A magnetic card transaction apparatuscomprising: a card slot from which a magnetic card is inserted; adetecting means which detects that said magnetic card is inserted fromsaid card slot; a card transferring means which takes in said magneticcard; a shutter means which opens or closes a card guiding path guidingsaid magnetic card inserted from said card slot to said cardtransferring means; and a control means which controls said shuttermeans to open said card guiding path when said detecting means detectsthat said magnetic card is inserted and which drives said cardtransferring means to transfer said magnetic card a given period of timeafter said card guiding path is opened.
 6. A magnetic card transactionapparatus comprising: a card slot from which a magnetic card isinserted; a card insertion detecting means which detects that saidmagnetic card is inserted from said card slot; a card transferring meanswhich takes in said magnetic card; a shutter means which opens or closesa card guiding path guiding said magnetic card inserted from said cardslot to said card transferring means; a detecting means which detectsthat said magnetic card inserted from said card slot comes in contactwith said shutter means; and a shutter controlling means which openssaid guiding path by driving said shutter means after said detectingmeans detects that said magnetic card comes in contact with said shuttermeans.
 7. The method of defeating the illegal reading of a magnetic cardat the point of insertion of the card through a card slot into a cardreader having transport means to move the card past a read head at aconstant predetermined rate comprising the steps of: detecting theposition of the card in the card reader at a predetermined point wherethe card is not being read by the read head and where a portion of thecard extends outside of the card reader through the card slot, and for apredetermined time period, substantially changing the predetermined rateat which the card moves in the card reader.
 8. The method of claim 7wherein said step of changing the predetermined rate at which the cardmoves constitutes stopping movement of the card for said predeterminedtime.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein said steps of detecting andsubstantially changing are taken when the card is being inserted intothe card reader and also when the card is being expelled from the cardreader.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of changing thepredetermined rate at which the card moves constitutes stopping movementof the card for said predetermined time.
 11. The method of claim 7 inwhich said predetermined time period is under 500 milliseconds.
 12. Themethod of claim 8 in which said predetermined time period is under 500milliseconds.
 13. The method of claim 9 in which said predetermined timeperiod is under 500 milliseconds.
 14. In a magnetic card reader having acard slot for accepting a magnetic card, a read head and transport meansfor moving a card to be read past the read head at a constantpredetermined rate, the improvement to defeat illegal reading of a cardcomprising: a sensor to provide a control signal indicating apredetermined position of a magnetic card inserted through the card slotinto the card reader, said predetermined position being where the cardis not being read by the read head and where a portion of the cardextends out of the card slot, and a drive circuit responsive to saidcontrol signal to substantially change for a predetermined time periodthe constant predetermined rate at which the card is being transportedthrough the card reader.
 15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein saidchange of the predetermined rate constitutes stopping movement of thecard for said predetermined time period.
 16. The improvement of claim 14wherein said sensor provides said control signal when the card is beinginserted into the card reader and also when the card is being expelledfrom the card reader, said drive circuit being responsive to saidcontrol signal in both insertion and expulsion of the card.
 17. Theimprovement of claim 15 wherein said sensor provides said control signalwhen the card is being inserted into the card reader and also when thecard is being expelled from the card reader, said drive circuit beingresponsive to said control signal in both insertion and expulsion of thecard.
 18. The improvement of claim 14 in which said predetermined timeperiod is under 500 milliseconds.
 19. The improvement of claim 15 inwhich said predetermined time period is under 500 milliseconds.
 20. Theimprovement of claim 16 in which said predetermined time period is under500 milliseconds.